The Big Bad Wolf

CHAPTER 49

THERE WAS A BREAK in White Girl. One of the women had been found



alive.

I was rushed to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in one of the two Bell helicopters kept at

Quantico for emergencies. A few senior agents had told me that they’d never been up in one

of the helicopters. It didn’t sit too well with them. Now here I was becoming a regular during

my orientation period. There were benefits to being on the director’s fast track.

The sleek black Bell set down in a small field in Norristown, Pennsylvania. During the flight I

found myself thinking of a recent orientation class. We’d burned fingernail clippings so that

everybody would know what a DOA smelled like. I already knew, and I didn’t relish

experiencing it again. I didn’t think there would be any DOA’s on this trip to Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, that turned out to be wrong.

Agents from the field office in Philadelphia were there to meet the helicopter and accompany

me to where Audrey Meek had been brought for questioning. So far there’d been no

announcement to the press, though her husband had been notified and was on his way to

Norristown.

“I’m not exactly sure where we are right now,” I said as we rode to a local state troopers

barracks. “How far is this from where Mrs. Meek was abducted?”



“We’re five miles,” said one of the agents from Philly. “It would take about ten minutes by

car.”



“Was she held captive near this area?” I asked. “Do we know yet? What exactly do we

know?”



“She told the state police that the abductor brought her here early this morning. She’s not sure

of the directions but thinks they rode for well over an hour. Her wristwatch had been taken

away from her.”



I nodded. “Was she blindfolded during the ride? I assume that she was.”



“No. That’s odd, isn’t it? She saw her captor several times. Also his vehicle. He didn’t seem to

care one way or the other.”



That was a genuine surprise to me. It didn’t track, and I said so.

“Stump the stars,” said the agent. “Isn’t that what this case is about so far?”



The state trooper barracks occupied a redbrick building tucked back from the highway. There

wasn’t any activity outside, and I took that as a good sign. At least I had beaten the press

there. No one had leaked the story so far.

I hurried inside the barracks to meet Audrey Meek. I was eager to find out how she had survived

against all odds, the first woman who had.